Star students excel at crunching the numbers

Two international students are celebrating after achieving the highest marks – not only in the University but in Australia – in their recent accounting exams.

Runqi Zheng, pictured above right, is from Beijing, China. She is studying Master of Accounting in International Practice, and scored the highest mark in Australia in the recent ACCA P1 Governance, Risk and Ethics exam. Her mark was also the 14th highest worldwide.

Fellow student Tashfeen Riaz, pictured above left, from Lahore in Pakistan, is studying Master of Accounting (Advanced) in the CPA Program. He scored 900/900 in his Financial Reporting CPA exam. Tashfeen also accomplished the notable feat of receiving a High Distinction in all three CPA exams he sat in Session One.

Runqi says she “could not believe it” when she found out she had achieved the best results in Australia. She had studied a BA in Philosophy but was attracted to Macquarie on the recommendation of a friend and due to the university’s reputation.

“My teachers really helped me learn how to apply the knowledge,” she says. “I just did my best. Only now am I starting to realise how significant this is.”

Tashfeen says he felt confident he had performed well but was as equally shocked by just how good his results were. “I was very happy but so surprised,” he says. “I’m hoping to leverage this and find a career in consultancy and the audit sector.”

“It’s fantastic to recognise the achievements of two of our brightest stars in their professional accounting exams and their truly exceptional achievement.

“Their results are testament to the excellent efforts of colleagues in the accounting department and the work they do to prepare students for the professional exams.”

Head of department Professor Rahat Munir said: “It’s fabulous news. They have really performed well above the global standard, which has taken Macquarie University to the next stage, competing globally in these professional exams. This is all due to the efforts of everyone involved across the department.”